SEVERE thunderstorms lit up the sky and wreaked havoc on the Gold Coast with road accidents, felled and burning trees and blackouts last night.

Severe thunderstorms were detected on the weather radar near Ipswich, Beaudesert, Kooralbyn, Harrisville, Peak Crossing and Amberley and moved into the Gold Coast about 6.20pm, prompting a severe weather warning.

"The storm built on a trough around Roma and moved eastwards in a line and finally moved off the coast," said Bureau of Meteorology forecaster Gavin Holcombe.

The Coast's spectacular lightning show began at 6.30pm with thunder rattling windows for about an hour-and-a-half.